Mount Diablo Unified superintendent warns of budget shortfall, reports multiple closed‑session personnel actions amid contract talks

Superintendent Clark told the Mount Diablo Unified School District Board of Education on Feb. 26 that the district is operating in an uncertain fiscal environment and that leadership is preparing for possible program and staff reductions if revenue trends continue. Clark said the district has about $200 million in reserves but described much of those funds as restricted and warned that recent bargaining proposals would cost far more than the district can sustain.

“Even though there's $200,000,000 in there, so much of that money is restricted dollars,” Superintendent Clark said during his report, noting that some locally held funds are earmarked for specific programs such as expanded learning and arts grants. Clark told the board the district had priced seven compensation proposals and that the total for all items under discussion numbered far higher; he said a partial pricing put projected costs in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Clark framed the warning with examples from other Bay Area districts, citing recent layoffs, school closures and multi‑million‑dollar budget gaps across neighboring districts to illustrate what he called a statewide pattern of declines in enrollment and the end of one‑time pandemic relief funds. He said Mount Diablo Unified is not issuing layoff notices now but emphasized that the board and administration must plan for multi‑year budget scenarios required by state rules.

The board also reported several outcomes from closed session. By recorded votes, trustees directed staff to take personnel steps under state education and government code provisions: approval of non‑reelection notices for multiple certificated employees, reassignment notices for two principals and two vice principals to return to teaching assignments at the end of the 2024–25 school year, issuance of notices of release and non‑reelection for two certificated administrative employees, approval of settlement in a pending case identified as AM v. Mount Diablo Unified up to a stipulated amount, and direction to general counsel on a liability claim filed by Bay Area Community Resources.

The district reiterated that closed‑session matters were discussed under the cited legal authorities and that personnel actions and settlement approvals follow the process required by the Education Code and Government Code.

Public speakers during the meeting pressed the board about negotiations and working conditions. Eric Haynes, a Concord resident and union member, criticized the district’s bargaining stance and pay offers, saying teachers need higher pay to afford living in the area. “We need to do better for our teachers,” Haynes said, arguing the district’s offers did not match projected cost‑of‑living increases.

Linda Ortega, representing district employees, told the board her members had submitted repeated facility reports about HVAC problems and that some reports reflect unresolved conditions. Ortega linked those workplace concerns to bargaining priorities and urged the district to resolve both building‑systems and labor issues.

The board took no public vote on budget cuts during the meeting; trustees approved the standard consent agenda and a series of routine items described elsewhere on the agenda. Clark said the district will continue to share bargaining proposals publicly on the Human Resources Labor Relations web page and asked the community to follow up at future meetings.

Ending: Clark asked trustees and the public to stay engaged as the district proceeds with budget planning and contract negotiations; he said staff will return to the board with further budget updates and with the three‑year projections the state requires.